Adult Learning

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received representations from local government regarding the difficulties in planning a coherent adult learning programme due to delays in the confirmation of local authority grants from the Learning and Skills Council; if so, what is their response to those representations; and whether they have plans to introduce a three-year funding cycle for learning and skills councils.

Lord Adonis: The department has received no such representations. The existing planning cycle between my department and the Learning and Skills Council already includes an annual grant letter to the LSC. This not only sets out the budget for the year ahead but includes indicative allocations for all subsequent remaining years of the three-year spending review period. Publication of the grant letter has been brought forward to facilitate planning of post-16 provision in all local areas.

Asian Security Conference

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Ministers represented them at the recent Asian security conference in Singapore.

Lord Drayson: Her Majesty's Government were represented at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore on 2–4 June by my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Adam Ingram).

Asylum Seekers

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have held discussions with Church Action on Poverty concerning its recommendation that asylum seekers should be able to sustain themselves by paid work, or receive a basic entitlement to state support; and, if so, what was the outcome of such discussions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The previous Minister for Immigration and Asylum met representatives of Church Action against Poverty on 17 May to discuss the support available to failed asylum seekers. He confirmed that options for providing assistance to failed asylum seekers—including the possibility of them taking paid work—were being kept under review.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a person would have a claim to British citizenship under Section 1(1) of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 in the following circumstances: (a) he was born after 4 February 1976; (b) he was a citizen of Nepal, at birth, solely by virtue of descent; (c) he applied for and successfully registered for (i) British national (overseas) status under Article 4(2) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986; (ii) British Dependent Territories citizenship under Section 17 of the British Nationality Act 1981; or (iii) citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies under Section 7 of the British Nationality Act 1948; (d) immediately before 4 February 1997 he was ordinarily resident in Hong Kong; (e) immediately before 4 February 1997 he was a British Dependent Territories citizen and if it had not been for his connection with Hong Kong he would not have been such citizen; (f) he is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the time of applying for British citizenship; (g) he has never held any citizenship or nationality other than those described in (b), (c) and (e); and (h) he has, because he is unaware that he ceased to be a citizen of Nepal by virtue of (c), mistakenly held or is holding a passport issued by the Kingdom of Nepal.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Yes, if (as we understand would be the case) the person lost their Nepalese nationality as a consequence of acquiring British nationality in the ways you outline. Notwithstanding the above, in assessing a person's eligibility for British citizenship under Section 1(1) of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 we would normally require written confirmation from the Nepalese authorities that a person who holds or has held a Nepalese passport after acquiring British nationality was not in fact a citizen of Nepal.

Care Homes: Funding

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they are giving to the findings and conclusion of Paying for long-term care, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; and whether there is any action they will be taking.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health will conduct a review of social care, starting from first principles on how social care is funded. To facilitate this work we are bringing together the country's leading experts on social care. This work will inform the department's plans for social care funding, which will feed into our work on the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Common Agricultural Policy: Single Farm Payment

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many farmers who have received their 2005–06 single farm payment after 5 April 2006 will be taken into the highest tax bracket if the 2006–07 payment is paid before 5 April 2007.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The taxable profits of farmers (or any other trader) are the profits shown in accounts prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice (GAAP) subject only to the adjustments required or authorised by law. GAAP requires single farm payments to be accounted for over the period in which they are accrued and not when the payment is actually received. Accordingly the taxable profits of farmers will not be affected by the timing of the receipt of single farm payments. No farmer will therefore be taken into the higher rate income tax band if they receive both the 2005–06 payment and the 2006–07 payment after 5 April 2006 and on or before 5 April 2007.

Department for Constitutional Affairs: Correspondence

Earl Ferrers: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to reply to a letter from the Earl Ferrers to the Baroness Ashton of Upholland of 14 November 2005, a copy of which they subsequently received by fax on 15 December 2005 and which was the subject of a reminder on 16 March.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I apologise for the delay in responding to the noble Earl, which was due to administrative errors in my office. Having obtained a copy, I have now written to the noble Earl.

Disabled People: Income

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of (a) the number of disabled people living in income poverty, and (b) the percentage difference from 1995; and how both these figures compare to the equivalent figures for non-disabled people.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Available information for 2004–05 is shown in the table. There is no equivalent information for 1995 which would allow a comparison to be made.
	
		Number of individuals (millions) in households below 60 per cent. median income
		
			  Before Housing Costs After Housing Costs 
			 One or more disabled adults in household 3.2 3.7 
			 No disabled adults in household 6.0 7.7 
		
	
	Source:
	2004–05 HBAI—table 3.6

Environmental Protection: Marine Species

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether marine species protection as proposed by the draft Marine Bill could, where appropriate, be seasonal.

Lord Rooker: We are committed to protecting marine species that are vulnerable to human impacts and are currently investigating whether additional legislation is required through the Marine Bill. As part of our consideration of the most appropriate approach for species protection, we will consider the use of seasonal protection.

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they now expect the full operation of the central register of persons who have applied for or been granted a shotgun or firearm certificate, as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and
	Which police forces in the United Kingdom have now transferred their records of firearms licensing to the computer system of the Police Information Technology Organisation for the implementation of the requirements of Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and
	Why the Police Information Technology Organisation has not provided any of the monthly updates on progress with the national firearms licensing system; and
	Whether the pilot tests of the national firearms licensing system due to be carried out in April and May have been successful.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: PITO has prepared two progress reports to date. I regret to say that due to an oversight these were not sent on to the noble Lord or other noble Lords who attended the presentation at PITO. I will write to the noble Lord with copies of both updates. The latest position is that user acceptance testing was completed on schedule and it was agreed that the application is fit for the purpose of a live pilot. This will now begin in two police forces on 5 June. If it is successful, the system will then be rolled out to all forces by March 2007.

Fishing: Bag Limits

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How it is proposed that bag limits in recreational fishing, as proposed in the draft Marine Bill, will be regulated.

Lord Rooker: Defra is currently considering whether provisions are needed in the Marine Bill for the introduction of bag limits for recreational and hobby fishermen.
	The appropriate means of regulating bag limits will form part of these considerations and would be subject in due course to consultation with stakeholders.

Government Departments: Special Advisers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many assistants are currently employed for special advisers to Ministers; in which government departments they are employed; and what is the nature of their services.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Support to special advisers is provided in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Government Departments: Telephone Numbers

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 29 March (WA 119–20), how much income was generated, in the last period for which figures were available, from the message portion of each call to a 0845 or 0870 telephone number assigned to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 29 March (WA 119–20), what was the charge made by the telephone service providers for 0845 or 0870 telephone numbers in the last period for which figures are available; and to which organisation or organisations the balance of the income generated was paid.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given by Lord Bach on 8 May 2006, Official Report, col. WA 116.

Ministerial Code

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the full terms of reference of Sir John Bourn's employment as the Government's adviser on ministerial interests; whether he is able to initiate and conduct his own investigations of a potential breach of the code; whether he is able to investigate a potential breach if asked to do so by a Member of either House; and whether he has been asked to date to investigate a potential breach by a Member of either House; and
	Whether Sir John Bourn, the Government's adviser on ministerial interests, is able to investigate allegations that the Prime Minister may have been in breach of the Ministerial Code; and, if so, to whom he would report; and
	Whether Sir John Bourn, the Government's adviser on ministerial interests, has, or will have, an office in No. 10 Downing Street; and what support will be provided directly to Sir John including financial resources and members of staff; and
	What revisions to the Ministerial Code have taken place following the appointment of Sir John Bourn as the Government's adviser on ministerial interests.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Copies of Sir John Bourn's terms of reference were placed in the Library on Tuesday 16 May. These set out his specific role as the independent adviser on Ministers' interests and the support he will receive.
	It is normal practice for the Ministerial Code to be updated and reissued after a general election. A revised Ministerial Code was published in July 2005. The next version of the Ministerial Code will take account of the appointment of the independent adviser on Ministers' interests.

Ministry of Defence: Joint Personnel Administration System

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the performance of the Ministry of Defence joint personnel administration system; and
	How many complaints have been made about errors in pay and allowances to the Ministry of Defence joint personnel administration system since it went live for the Royal Air Force on 20 March; and
	When the Ministry of Defence joint personnel administration system is expected to be extended to the Army and the Royal Navy; and
	What is the total cost of the contract for the Ministry of Defence joint personnel administration system.

Lord Drayson: On 20 March 2006, the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) rolled out joint personnel administration (JPA) to 48,000 RAF service personnel throughout the world, on time and on budget. The event marked the culmination of five years' system design, development, integration and testing and bears testimony to a very strong partnering agreement between MoD and EDS.
	The current estimated total cost of the JPA project, including costs preceding full development and also its initial period of in-service operation through to the end of financial year 2008-09, covering both MoD and extramural costs, is £269 million. JPA is expected to deliver savings in excess of £100 million per year when fully in service.
	On JPA rollout to the RAF, there were a number of technical issues which had not manifested in the extensive testing carried out prior to its launch. These resulted in the system operating much more slowly than anticipated which greatly restricted the number of self-service users at any one time. Over the course of the following six weeks these early problems were overcome and users have had access to the full system functionality since 18 May.
	JPA performed satisfactorily on rollout to RAF professional HR administrators and has successfully delivered pay to the RAF with only relatively few discrepancies in the first month and many less in the second. Although the first few weeks following roll out have resulted in a significant number of inquiries and requests for rectification of problems from individual users, as well as some 14 pieces of ministerial correspondence on behalf of constituents, as at 9 June there have been no formal grievances from individual users about JPA.
	In order to ensure alignment of JPA with defence information infrastructure (future) programme requirements, current plans are that JPA will be rolled out to the RN from October 2006 and to the Army from March 2007.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money has been received by the Police Service for Northern Ireland from outside bodies such as district councils and businesses for additional police services in each district command unit over the past 24 months.

Lord Rooker: Due to the detail involved, a table showing the breakdown of money received by the Police Service for Northern Ireland from district councils and businesses in relation to additional services by each DCU over the past 24 months has been placed in the Library.

Police: Powers of Entry

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what circumstances they consider it appropriate for police to break down the doors of people they wish to interview in connection with alleged offences of a minor, non-violent, nature who have offered no resistance.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The police power to enter premises for the purpose of arresting a suspect is governed by Section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and the accompanying PACE codes of practice. The power applies to the execution of a warrant for the person's arrest, an arrest in relation to an indictable offence, an arrest for one of the offences or other limited circumstances specified in Section 17(1)(c) of PACE. The constable must have reasonable grounds to believe that the person being sought is on the premises. Force may be used only in a reasonable and proportionate manner if the occupier and any other person entitled to grant access are absent, there are reasonable grounds for believing that alerting the occupier would frustrate the purpose of the search, if entry has been refused, or it is impossible to communicate with the occupier or other person entitled to grant access. PACE code B also includes information on the additional safeguards for the public that apply to the exercise of police powers to enter and search; including matters relating to the conduct of searches, notices to occupiers (which include information on claiming compensation) and securing premises. Copies of the PACE codes can be accessed on the Home Office website.

Police: Reorganisation

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of each police force's budget in England and Wales is derived from the police precept element of the council tax; whether they estimate that this proportion would alter under the proposals for police force restructuring outlined by the Secretary of State for the Home Department; and, if so, by how much.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The proportion of each police authority's budget met from the police precept on council tax in 2006–07 is set out in the table. The aggregate proportion of this sum for any merger group of authorities would be unchanged on combination. New strategic police authorities would be the precepting authorities for strategic police forces and responsible for setting final budgets.
	
		Proportion of police authority budgets met from police precepts on council tax in 2006–07
		
			 Police Authority Percentage 
			 Avon and Somerset 31.4 
			 Bedfordshire 26.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 33.2 
			 Cheshire 26.2 
			 Cleveland 21.9 
			 Cumbria 31.3 
			 Derbyshire 29.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 30.1 
			 Dorset 41.6 
			 Durham 17.9 
			 Essex 29.8 
			 Gloucestershire 40.1 
			 Hampshire 29.4 
			 Hertfordshire 32.5 
			 Humberside 25.3 
			 Kent 28.7 
			 Lancashire 21.8 
			 Leicestershire 27.3 
			 Lincolnshire 32.3 
			 Norfolk 35.3 
			 Northamptonshire 34.1 
			 North Yorkshire 42.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 25.0 
			 Staffordshire 32.5 
			 Suffolk 32.8 
			 Surrey 45.6 
			 Sussex 31.2 
			 Thames Valley 33.7 
			 Warwickshire 35.3 
			 West Mercia 36.4 
			 Wiltshire 34.5 
			 Total Shire Authorities 31.1 
			   
			 Greater Manchester 17.0 
			 Merseyside 17.4 
			 Northumbria 11.7 
			 South Yorkshire 18.3 
			 West Midlands 13.6 
			 West Yorkshire 19.3 
			 Total Provincial Metropolitan Authorities 16.2 
			   
			 Total England (excluding London) 26.5 
			   
			 Metropolitan 25.0 
			   
			 Total England (including London) 26.1 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys 37.4 
			 Gwent 28.4 
			 North Wales 37.9 
			 South Wales 25.4 
			 Total Wales 30.6 
			 Total England and Wales 26.4 
		
	
	Source:
	English Police Authorities, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Welsh Police Authorities, Welsh Assembly Government
	Excludes the City of London

Prisoners: Life Sentences

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 3 May (WA 90), how many prisoners were serving life sentences as of 1 January 2006; and, of these, how many had served more than five, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years respectively.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There were 6,051 prisoners serving life sentences on 31 December 2005; information on the numbers who had at that time served the lengths of time specified in the Question is in the attached table, which has been provided from the Prison Service IT system.
	
		Population of life prisoners by interval since date of initial reception on life sentence, 31 December 2005
		
			 All less than five years five to less than 10 years 10 to less than 15 years 15 to less than 20 years 20 to less than 30 years 30 years and over 
			 6,051 2,285 1,817 918 479 433 118

Railways: Ministry of Defence

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the current contracts for operating main line freight trains for the Ministry of Defence are due to expire; what progress they are making in seeking competitive bids for the next period; and whether the process will be fully compliant with government procurement procedures.

Lord Drayson: The current main line rail contract is due to expire on 31 March 2007. An advertisement for expressions of interest was placed in the Official Journal of the European Union and in the Ministry of Defence Contracts Bulletin on 8 June 2006. The contract re-let process will be fully compliant with government procurement procedures.

Student Loans

Baroness Greenfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why HM Revenue and Customs takes monthly student loan repayments from wages but pays the Student Loans Company annually, resulting in extra accrued interest on the loan and a loss of potential investment interest on the money held.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: As the income contingent repayment (ICR) scheme involves collecting student loan repayments through the tax system, repayments are calculated and deducted by employers from earnings along with pay as you earn (PAYE) tax and national insurance contributions (NIC). HM Revenue and Customs calculates and sends expected receipts from student loan collection to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) each quarter and the money is used to fund expenditure on education. Borrowers' accounts with the Student Loan Company (SLC) are updated annually following receipt of year-end returns. SLC credits borrowers' accounts retrospectively to the tax year in which deductions were made from earnings so no additional interest is charged even if there is a delay in the repayment information reaching SLC.

Tourism Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much Tourism Ireland has allocated in 2005 and 2006 to counties for the promotion of the island of Ireland; and, in particular, what ethnic markets are involved.

Lord Rooker: Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) does not allocate its marketing budget on county basis. TIL allocates its core promotional budget on a country-by-country basis, taking account of those markets which have the highest yield potential for tourism on the island of Ireland.